Paint can attachment



Jan. 22, 1963 c. BAROUD PAINT cm ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 0 M a M u M 0 WM W TTORNEY C; BAROUD PAINT CAN ATTACHMENT Jan. 22, 1963 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Filed Oct. 12,,[1960 OARUM BAROUD INVENTOR TTORNEY United rates This invention relates to a paint can attachment and more particularly to apparatus arranged to be used with a conventional can of paint as a paint pourer, saver, and brush rest.

In painting, there are many occasions in which it is desirable to be able to remove excess paint from the paint brush. At the same time, there are times when one wishes to find a place to rest the brush when it is not being used. Furthermore, particularly when large cans of paint are involved, it is desirable to pour some of the paint into a smaller receptacle. In the past, devices have been known for accomplishing all of these functions, but it has been necessary to use of one several devices for this purpose. Furthermore, there have been devices that have not been useful with all sizes of cans and that have easily been rendered inoperative by an accumulation of dry paint. Furthermore, as time goes on, these devices, particularly' when they are made of sheet metal, get out of shape and will no longer fit the can properly. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

.It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a paint can attachment which is capable of performing the functions of acting as a paint pourer, a brush rest, and an excess paint scraper.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a paint can attachment of the type described which is formed in such a manner and of such a material as to render it capable of attachment to the conventional paint can despite accumulations of dry paint and despite variations in can size.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a paint can attachment which is readily adapted to being injection molded of an elastomer plastic in a variety of sizes for attachment to various standard paint cans.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a paint can attachment which may be readily manufactured of inexpensive material and which is capable of a long life of useful service with a minimum of maintenance problems.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to certain of its structural forms as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint can attachment embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from beneath the paint can on which the attachment has been placed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the invention taken on the line IVIV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line VV of FIG. 2.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, it can be seen that the paint can attachment, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown in use with a paint can 11 having a conventional lip 12. The attachment consists in a general way of a right hand shelf portion 13, a left hand shelf portion 14, and a nose 15. A brace 16 exatent tends from the underside of the nose and rests against the side of the paint can.

7 In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the right hand shelf portion 14 is defined by two concentric circular edges 17 and 18 and a radial end edge 19; in a similar manner the left hand shelf portion 14 is defined by concentric circular edges 21 and 22 and a radial end edge 23. Circular edges 13 and 21 lie on the same imaginary circle and the circular edges 18 and 22 are similarly related. Spaced inwardly of the edges 18 and 21 is a downwardly-extending flange 24. Inwardly of the circular edge 17 the right hand shelf portion 13 is provided with a concentric downwardlyextending flange 25, while a similar flange 26 extends downwardly from the left hand shelf portion 14 a similar distance inwardly of the circular edge 21. Centrally of the attachment it is provided with a radial groove 27 which extends otuwardly over the nose 15 and is defined by sides 28 and 29 and a bottom 31. The nose 15 is defined in the plan view by two sides 32 and 33 and an end 34. The sides 32 and 28 of the groove and nose are generally parallel as are the sides 29 and .33. The sides 28 and 29 are inclined toward one another as they extend outwardly and so the sides 32 and 33 of the nose 15 are similarly related. At the other side of the attachment it is provided with a notch 35 which is defined by a side 36 which constitutes an extension of the side 28 of the groove 27 by a side 37 which constitutes an extension of the side 29 of the groove and byan inner edge 38; the inner edge 38 lies in alignment with the inner side of the flange 24.

As is evident in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the right hand shelf portion 13 and the left hand shelf portion 14 is a broad flat surface 39. It can be seen that the circular edge 22 is quite square with sharp edges, whereas the outer edge 21 is fairly thick and is smoothly beveled. The flange 24 is provided with an inner concave surface 41 and an outer convex surface 42 which is concentric with it. The flange 26 extends inwardly at a right angle to the surface 39 and is provided with a generous bevel at its lower edge and at the areas at which it merges with the underside of a shelf portion.

FIG. 5 not only shows the cross-section of the attachment in the vicinity of the nose 15 but also shows the shape of the lip 12 of the can 11. Also, it shows the relation ship of the brace 16 to the can and the flange 25. Also evident is the groove 27 with its side 28 and its bottom 31. As is clearly shown, the nose 15 tapers outwardly to a sharp edge at its outer end; the nose tilts slightly away from the plane of the upper surface 39. The can 11 and its lip 12 are shown as having a wall 43 at the upper side of which is located a vertical flange 44. From the junction of the wall 43 and the flange 44 the lip consists of a generally horizontal portion 45 followed by a vertical portion 46; this is followed by another horizontal floor 47, this being the lowermost portion of the lip.

The inner edge of the floor 47 merges into a generally vertical portion terminating at its upper edge in a bead 49.

In FIG. 3 the attachment 10 is shown in its normal condition before being snapped onto the can. The can 11 is shown with its flange 44 and its bead 49 so that it is quite clear that the radius of curvature of the flanges 25 and 26 is much greater than that of the outer flange 44 and that the curvature of the inner flange 24 is considerably greater than the curvature of the bead 49. In FIG. 5 it can be seen that a fillet 51 is provided in the junction between the underside of the shelf portions and the inner flange 24, except in the vicinity of the notch 35. It is contemplated that the apparatus be made of an elastomer substance such as polyethylene, Teflon, or rubber.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood in view of the above description. After the cover has been removed from the can 11, the attachment is grasped in both hands as shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus is bent to conform to the curvature of the can and the brace 16 is slipped along the outer surface of the flange 44 of the can, while the flange 25 and the flange 26 are slipped along the inner surface of the flange 44-. Then the flange 24 is moved downwardly over the bead 49* and the attachment is released. The natural resiliency of the article makes it tend to resume its natural state and the concave surface 41 of the flange 24 snaps into place securely around and under the bead 49. During the painting operation, after the painter has dipped the brush into the paint, he may draw the brush along the circular edges 18 and 22 which, as has been described, are provided with sharp edges which remove most of the paint from the brush to a degree sufficient to ensure good painting. Since the edges 18 and 22 are spaced inwardly a considerable distance from the side d3 of the paint can and from the lip 12, the excess paint will fall directly into the body of paint in the paint can. Furthermore, the paint, when removed from the brush, will not flow along the surface of the lip and foul it against use with the can cover. As a matter of fact, when using the present invention, it is contemplated that no paint will remain in the groove in the lip formed by the vertical portion 46 and 48 in the bottom 47. In order to pour the paint from the can into a smaller receptacle, it is merely necessary to tip the can. The paint flows through the groove 27 and leaves the end of the nose 15. The tight manner in which the attachment grasps the lip and covers the can on both sides of the nose for a considerable distance ensures that there be no danger of the paint running down the side of the can or otherwise behaving in an unsatisfactory manner. Because the right hand shelf portion 13 and the left hand shelf portion 14 have broad flat upper surfaces 39 a desirable surface is provided for laying a brush when it is not in use, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. in FIG. it can be seen that the surface 39 is inclined slightly toward the inside of the can so that paint will run off the brush into the can.

Because of the integral construction of the attachment it is a relatively easy matter to clean it after it has been used for a certain color of paint. Most of the elastomer plastics are resistant to chemical action and strong paint removers and cleaners may be used, if necessary.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention Without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A paint can attachment formed of an elastomer material, comprising two shelf portions having inner and outer concentric edges and having upper surfaces lying in a common plane, the shelf portions being adapted to overlie the lip of the paint can, a nose extending radially outwardly of and between the outer circular edges, a groove extending radially between the shelf portions and over the nose to its outer end, at least two radially-spaced concentric flanges extending downwardly from the shelf portions and adapted to grasp annular portions of the lip, each flange having a radius of curvature substantially different from that of its respective annular portion, one of the flanges having a concave side facing the other flange and adapted to engage a head on the lip formed at the upper edge of its respective annular portion.

2. A paint can attachment integrally formed of an elastomer material, comprising two shelf portions having inter and outer concentric edges and having upper surfaces lying in a common plane, the shelf portions being adapted to overlie the lip of the paint can, a nose extending radially outwardly of and between the outer circular edges, a groove extending radially between the shelf portions and over the nose to its outer end, at least two radially-spaced concentric flanges extending downwardly from the shelf portions and adapted to grasp annular portions of the lip, each flange having a radius of curvature substantially different from that of its respective annular portion, a brace extending downwardly from the nose and having a substantially vertical surface facing toward the outer flange, the outer flange and the vertical surface of the brace being adapted to clamp the lip between them.

3. A paint can attachment integrally formed of an elastomer material, comprising two shelf portions having inner and outer concentric edges and having upper surfaces lying in a common plane, the shelf portions being adapted to overlie the lip of the paint can with their surfaces inclined downwardly toward the center of the can,

a nose extending radially outwardly of and between the outer circular edges, a groove extending radially between the shelf portions and over the nose to its outer end, first and second radially-spaced concentric flanges extending downwardly from the shelf portions and adapted to grasp annular portions of the lip, each flange having a radius of curvature substantially different from that of its respective annular portion, the first flange having a concave side facing the other flange and adapted to engage a bead formed on the upper edge of the respective annular portion, and a brace extending downwardly from the nose and having a substantially vertical surface facing toward the second flange, the second flange and the vertical surface of the brace being adapted to clamp the lip between them.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,471 Crook Oct. 31, 1933 2,591,482 Weltlich Apr. 1, 1952 2,722,347 Henke Nov. 1, 1955 2,786,614 Giusto Mar. 26, 1957 2,812,886 Weinstein Nov. 12, 1957 2,873,881 Nichols Feb. 17, 1959- FOREIGN PATENTS 940,748 France Dec. 21, 1948 

1. A PAINT CAN ATTACHMENT FORMED OF AN ELASTOMER MATERIAL COMPRISING TWO SHELF PORTION HAVING INNER AND OUTER CONCENTRIC EDGES AND HAVING UPPER SURFACES LYING IN A COMMON PLANE, THE SHELF PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE LIP OF THE PAINT CAN, A NOSE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF AND BETWEEN THE OUTER CIRCULAR EDGES, A GROOVE EXTENDING RADIALLY BETWEEN THE SHELF PORTIONS AND OVER THE NOSE TO ITS OUTER END, AT LEAST TWO RADIALLY-SPACED CONCENTRIC FLANGES EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE SHELF PORTIONS AND ADAPTED TO GRASP ANNULAR PORTIONS OF THE LIP EACH FLANGE HAVING A RADIUS OF CURVATURE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF ITS RESPECTIVE ANNULAR PORTION, ONE OF THE FLANGES HAVING A CONCAVE SIDE FACING THE OTHER FLANGE AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A BEAD ON THE LIP FORMED AT THE UPPER EDGE OF ITS RESPECTIVE ANNULAR PORTION. 